The Plymouth Symphony Orchestra perform this evening (5.30pm) at Sterts Theatre, Upton Cross, and on June 21 in Plymouth Guildhall at 7.30pm for a concert of well-loved classical music. 

The main work of the programme is Beethoven’s Symphony No 6 in F Major, known as the Pastoral. He completed the work in 1808 in Vienna. 

The concert opens with Tchaikovsky’s fantasy overture Romeo and Juliet, inspired by the Shakespeare play of the same name. Its central love theme is very familiar to us, as it is frequently used in romantic scenes from film and television. Khachaturian’s ballet Spartacus is based on the slave uprising which occurred in ancient Rome. Sibelius’ tone poem Finlandia was composed in 1899 for a political demonstration in Helsinki. 

The Plymouth Symphony Orchestra is one of the longest-established orchestras in the country and attracts distinguished soloists.